John Calvin Commentary Lamentations 3:27

"It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." — Lamentations 3:27 (ASV)

This verse allows for two meanings; for the word yoke may be explained as signifying teaching or the scourges of God. Indeed, we undertake or bear God's yoke in two ways: when we are taught to receive his doctrine, or when we are resigned as he chastises us—when we are not rebellious but willingly submit to his corrections.

Since, then, some take the word עול as the yoke of instruction and others as the yoke of chastisement, two explanations, as I have said, are given, and both are admissible.

It is indeed truly said that it is good for a person to be accustomed from his youth to God’s corrections. However, Jeremiah seems rather to speak of that general obedience which the faithful render to God when they submit to his will.

Our true happiness, then, is when we acknowledge that we are not our own and allow God, by his sovereign power, to rule us as he pleases. But we ought to begin with the law of God.

Therefore, we are said to bear God's yoke when we relinquish our own judgment and become wise through God’s word—when, with our desires surrendered and subdued, we hear what God commands us and receive what he commands. This, then, is what Jeremiah means by bearing the yoke.

And he says this applies in youth. For those who have lived unrestrained throughout their lives can hardly bear to be brought into any order. We indeed know that the aged are less tractable than the young; in fact, whether we refer to the arts or to the liberal sciences, youth is the most flexible age.

The aged are also much slower; and, added to this, is another problem: they are very obstinate and will hardly bear to be taught the first rudiments, being imbued with a false notion, as though they must have lived long in vain. Since, then, the disposition of the old is not easily changed, the Prophet says that it is good for us to be trained from childhood to bear the yoke.

This is also seen in animals. When a horse is allowed full liberty in the fields and not tamed at the proper time, he will hardly ever bear the curb; he will always be unmanageable. Oxen, also, will never be brought to bear the yoke if they are put under it in their sixth or eighth year.

The same is found to be the case with people. Jeremiah, then, does not say without reason that it is good for everyone to be trained from their youth in the service of God. Thus, he exhorts children and youth not to wait for old age, as is usually the case.

For it has been a common problem in all ages for children and youth to leave the study of wisdom to the old. They think: “Oh! it will be time enough for me to be wise when I arrive at middle age; but some liberty must be given to childhood and youth.”

For this reason, Solomon exhorts all not to wait for old age, but properly to learn to fear God in childhood. Similarly, our Prophet declares that it is good for one to bear the yoke in one's childhood.